Stalk or weed cutter.



No. 712,883 v Patented Nov. 4, 190.2.

I I T. A. woon & J. w. SPANN..

STALK 0R WEED CUTTER.

(Application med Apr. 19, 1992.

(No Model.)

THOMAS A. IVOOI) AND JAMES W.

trio.

SPANN, OF LUXORA, ARKANSAS.

STALK OR WEED CUTTER.

I 3PECIFATI N forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,883, dated November4, 1902.

7 Application filed April it, 1902.

To all whom it may concern: I

Beit known that we, THOMAS A. WOOD and JAMES W. SPANN,citizens of theUnited States, residing at Luxora, in the county of Mississippi andState of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Stalk or Weed Cutter,of which the following is a specification.

Our invention is an improved stalk and weed cutter for cutting weeds andthe stalks of cotton, corn, and cane close to the level'of the ground toclear the field thereof; andit consists in the peculiar construction andcombination of devices hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stalkand weed outter constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 isa side elevation of the same, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a detailperspective view showing the adjusting runner connected to the frontiendof the guiderunner. a

In the embodiment of our invention we provide a framed, which is hereshown as comprising across-bar 2 and a pair of side bars 3. The ends ofthe cross-bar are se-' cured to the side bars at a suitable distancefrom the rear ends thereof, and the said side bars converge forwardly,as shown. In prac tice the frame 1 may bem'ade of any suitable material.As here shown, the side bars 3 are made of angle-iron. I

A longitudinally-disposed guide -runner 4 is employed, which has itsfront end disposed between the front ends ofthe side bars of the frame 1and its rear end secured to the center of the cross-bar 2. As hereshown, the guide-runner is a flattened bar of iron or steel disposedvertically in cross-section and beveled on opposite sides to form alower cutting edge 5. We would have it understood, however, that theguide-runner may be made of any suitable material, and we do not limitourselves in this particular. The front ends of the side barsare'secured to the guide-runner near the front end of the latter, asshown. A bar or frame Thas its front end flexibly connected to thecentral portion of the cross-bar 2by a hinge 8. The said bar or frame 7is here shown as forked at its rear end and as extending rearwardly fromthe cross -bar, and between the forks of said Serial No. 103,786. (Nomodel.)

frame, bar, or arm 7-is mounted" a roller 9. Saidframe, bar, or arm,'andsaid roller constitute a truck, which is drawn behind the frame 1, andthe said truck carries the seat 10 for thedriver, and it will beunderstood that owing to the flexible connection between said truck andthe cross-bar of the frame 1 the major portion of the weight of thedriver is borne by said truck and the frame 1 relieved thereof. Theflexible connection between the truck and the cross-bar of the frameenables the truck to rise and descend as it encounters inequalities inthe surface of the soil without aifecting the frame 1. 011 the undersides of the side bars 3 are cutterblades 11, which are disposedhorizontally in cross-section and have their outersides, which projectlaterally beyond the outer sides of the side bars 3, beveled on theirupper sides to form the outer cutting edges 12." The said cutter-bladesare here shown as detachably connected to the under sides of the sidebars 3 bybolts 13. This enables the cutterblades to be removed from theside bars when they need sharpening or become worn and require to berenewed.

NVe also provide an adjusting-runner 14. Preferably the same is of theconstruction shown and has a forwardly-inclined upwardlyextending arm 15at its front end and an upwardly-extending curved arm 16 at its rearend. The said arms of the adjusting-runner are here shown as disposed inslots 17 18, re-

openings 20, whereby the adjusting-runner may be disposed with its'rearend raised or lowered to ,any desired extent withrespect IOC runner bedisposed so that'its cutter-blades will be caused to run eitherhorizontally on the ground or at an'angle with relation thereto. In theupper end of the arm 15 of the adjusting-runner is an opening 22, whichenables a single or double tree to be attached to the said arm of theadjusting-runner by means of a suitable link. Hence the said arm of theadjusting-runner is employed as the draft element of the stalk-cutter.

The operation of our improved stalk and weed cutter may be readilyunderstood. The guide-runner, the lower edge of which cuts into thesoil, directs the stalk and weed cutter in a right line and preventslateral displacement thereof. The cutter-bars, which travel on orslightly above the surface of the ground, come in contact with thestalks and exert a draw or shear cut thereon owing to the forward motionof the stalk and weed cutter, and hence eifectually sever the same,thereby clearing the field. The cut stalks may be readily turned underwhen the field is plowed.

Having thus described our invention, we claim 1. In a stalk-cutter, thecombination of a longitudinal guide-runner, the lower edge of which isadapted to enter the soil, a blade adapted to travel on the surface ofthe soil, and having a cutting edge on its outer side, said bladeconverging forwardly to said runner, and an adjusting-runner at thefront end of the guide-runner to vertically adjust the front end of thestalk-cutter, substantially as described.

2. In a stalk-cutter, the. combination of a longitudinal guide-runner,the lower edge of which is adapted to enter the soil, and a bladeadapted to travel on the surface of the soil and having a cutting edgeon its outer side, said blade converging forwardly to said runner and anadjusting-runner atthe front end of and adjustably attached to saidguide-runner, substantially as described.

3. In a stalk-cutter, the combination of a longitudinal guide-runner, aframe to which it is attached, said frame having a cutter, and anadjusting-runner, the latter being pivotally attached to the front endof the stalk: cutter and having a rear upstanding arm adjustablyconnected to an element of the stalkcutter, substantially as described.

4. In a stalk-cutter, the combination of a longitudinal guide-runner, aframe to which it is attached, said frame having a cutter, and anadjusting-runner, the latter having upwardly-extending front and reararms respectively pivoted and adjustably connected to an element of thestalk-cutter at the front end thereof, said front arm of saidadjusting-runner forming the draft element, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have heretoaffixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS A. \VOOD. JAMES W. SPANN.

Witnesses:

WM. Wool), H. E. HOGAN.

